Paul Pisasale plotted political comeback before arrest

EMBATTLED former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale was plotting his political comeback even as the Crime and Corruption Commission closed in on him with the charges that would see him spectacularly arrested and front court yesterday.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the beleaguered politician sought to overturn his resignation in the days immediately after he stood down from the top job on June 6 while in his dressing gown in an Ipswich hospital.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale leaves the police watch house in Brisbane.Dan Peled/AAP

It can be revealed Pisasale was also considering running for mayor in the upcoming by-election to determine who would take the seat he announced he was vacating.

But "Mr Ipswich" cut a lonely figure in the dock yesterday as he faced serious criminal charges, including extortion, after his arrest on Tuesday.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale leaves the police watch house in Brisbane.Dan Peled/AAP

Barefoot and dressed in a prison-issue brown tracksuit, "Queensland's most popular politician" sat with his head bowed and his hands tucked beneath his legs.

He was forced to agree he would not approach international departure points so that he could get bail on charges of extortion and two other counts involving the alleged assault of a woman.

Court documents show the extortion is alleged to have occurred between January 9 and March 17, while Pisasale was still in charge of one of Queensland's biggest regional cities.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale leaves the police watch house in Brisbane.Dan Peled/AAP